Sarah Renner graduated from UNC in 2017 with a Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology. She was interviewed by Taylor Enrico on October 7, 2020 when she was a Consultant at Adivo Associates, LLC.
What are your main responsibilities as a consultant at Adivo?
It’s very different day-to-day. Our business model is slightly different from the Big Four or Big Three or other boutique consulting firms. We have great data and a great network of understanding very specific product lines. For example, I work on hemophilia, and we have networks to understand hemophilia markets across the globe. We have certain clients who are very interested in tracking those hemophilia markets. My day-to-day looks like: I talk to physicians, I learn about their markets, I learn what their needs are, I figure out what the hemophilia products are doing in those particular markets, and I write reports for clients.
What excites you the most about what you do?
What excites me the most is getting to learn new things. Part of what drew me to science is that there is always something new to learn. One of the things that I enjoy the most about this job is that, even if I think I know a market 100%, there is always something else that I can learn about it. My job keeps my mind stimulated.
How does your current job affect your lifestyle and what is your work-life balance like?
We have quarterly projects, so my tasks depend on where we are in the quarter. If I recently submitted quarterly deliverables, then I will have a less busy week or two, and then things ramp back up. During my time here, I have learned how to balance when to relax and when to really push. I’ve been at Adivo for three years, so I have gotten faster at things. At the beginning, I felt like I was working a lot, and I was. Now, I am very comfortable with what I’m doing, so I am able to manage my work-life balance, and I know how to complete projects on-time without working long hours. I think my work-life balance is good.
Can you tell me about your career path and how you found your current position?
During college, I interned at a Pharmaceutical company called Barr Pharmaceuticals [now Teva]. As an intern, I worked in lots of different departments, which got me interested in a career in the biosciences. I graduated college in 2009, and I started working at a biotechnology company called Intrexon. I worked there for a few years. What made me decide to go back to school and get my PhD, is that the people who were making major decisions for the company had PhDs, MBAs, and I realized that if I wanted to do more, I needed more schooling. In graduate school, I knew that I wanted to go back to industry. By third year, I was facing challenges with my project, and I wanted to focus on something else. I joined the consulting club, and the rest is history. I learned that consulting was an option for PhDs, I went to club events, and I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of consulting. I wanted to keep my mind busy, understand the business side of science, and build my business knowledge. Coincidentally, I found my job at Adivo because of a connection through the club. My fellow vice-president [of GBCC] received an email about an opening at Adivo and shared the information with me. This job was not posted on the internet where I would have found it on my own.
How did GBCC help you launch your career?
In addition to the networking opportunities, it really gave me an understanding of business. A lot of business is common sense, problem solving, and critical thinking. [GBCC] helped me to hone those skills in a way that made me more employable, and a better candidate in interviews. As a PhD student, we learn to think critically. Through GBCC, I practiced case interviews, competed in case competitions, and worked on a pro bono consulting project with (CG)2. All of these things showed that, not only could I think critically, but I also was interested in business. When I look at candidates applying to Adivo, I am looking for someone that, if they do not have an MBA, that they are showing an interest in business.
What is one piece of advice you would offer to current students?
Do as much as you can, learn as much as you can, and make as many relationships as you can while you’re in grad school. While you’re in school, focus on career development and making professional connections when you have time. If you are in the middle of qualifying exams, maybe that is not the best time for networking, and that’s okay. You will have time, and you can do so many different things with your PhD, that if one thing does not work out, something else will. You are going to be okay.
Thanks to Sarah for spending time with us to learn more about her experiences! If you’re interested in following her footsteps, you can visit the website of the GBCC or reach out to her over LinkedIn.